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microblading after care melissa tyler cosmetic tattoo artist los angeles

After Care for Brows

A F T E R   Y O U R   B R O W   P R O C E D U R E

​Many factors determine the longevity of a cosmetic tattoo & how vibrant the color stays but your commitment to aftercare is one of the  most important factors.

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Immediately after your treatment you may experience:

  • Tingling

  • Tenderness

  • Swelling

  • Redness

  • Flaking

  • Itchiness

These can last up to 72 hours, are usually mild, & subside after a day or two.

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DAYS  1 - 7 AFTER PROCEDURE

DO NOT GET BROWS WET

You can wash the rest of your face gently avoiding the brow area. 

After brows are healed, cleanse brow area gently with clean hands, being careful not to rub with force, but gently cleanse eyebrow area using a gentle cleanser that is sulfate-free & fragrance-free (such as Cetaphil or Ceravie) 

During the first 7 days of healing the brows are most vulnerable because skin is still open & pigment has not been sealed in under the new skin cells that will form as brows heal.  Fresh new skin is extremely delicate so we ask you to follow these steps faithfully for a full two weeks after your procedure.  Failure do so will greatly decrease success.

 

 

FOR 2 WEEKS AFTER PROCEDURE​

  • AFTER CARE OINTMENT - pigment is retained best with a "wet heal" - meaning procedure area remains moist at all times until fully healed. The layer of ointment should be thin, as your skin needs air to breathe and heal, but we want to make sure brows don't dry out while healing.  Apply ointment gently using a NEW clean cotton swab (because it's cleaner than your finger) for each application.

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  • PRESS / BLOT - 3 times each day to remove excess lymphatic fluid (We'll explain this method at your appointment)

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  • DO NOT SCRATCH / PICK - A slight itching sensation is normal; it’s a sign that your skin is starting to heal. Do not pick/scratch the treated area, as this can cause scarring, infection & affect color result. Your eyebrow tattoo may flake a little; this is also perfectly normal & should be left to heal naturally and fall off on its own.

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  • NO MAKEUP or PRODUCTS ON BROWS - Avoid makeup & products in/on the brow area. You should not apply anything (other than approved after care ointment) as any other products such as moisturizers, makeup, oils or lotions can cause infection or a reaction in your skin.  Such things are detrimental to your end result.  Also, open skin that is healing can  become contaminated with pigment or colors in your makeup and this can alter the final color of your healed brows.

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  • BE CAREFUL AROUND WATER - Keep showers quick & NO swimming! You will be able to gently cleanse your brows after two days but remember...  water on the treated area can cause problems with a cosmetic tattoo so when bathing or showering take care not to let water run onto brows & never submerge face under water during the healing process.  If you do get your brows wet, pat dry gently with a clean tissue or cotton towel.

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  • NO STEAM / SAUNAS / HOT TUBS - Steam opens pores & softens freshly healing skin & can cause rapid pigment loss during healing

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  • NO SWEAT: Sweat can dissolve pigment! Your sweat consists primarily of water & electrolytes (including sodium + chloride). When you sweat, the salt hangs out on your skin after the water evaporates. That's why sweat tastes salty. So... sweat on healing brows, where pigment has not been sealed in under new skin cells yet, will dramatically fade results. 

 

For athletes & fitness enthusiasts - we know you don't want to wait two weeks to workout, we get it, so IF YOU MUST then put an extra layer of after care ointment on your brows & wear a headband like they did in the 80s to catch any sweat from getting on your healing brows and proceed at your own risk.

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  • NO SUN: Large sunglasses or a brimmed hat can offer great protection for your eyebrow tattoos from the sun if you must be outdoors during your healing. NO sun/tanning beds under any circumstance.  ​​​

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  • SLEEP ON YOUR BACK - sleeping with your brow area pressed into a pillow will affect the healing process.  We know it's difficult when you're a tummy/side sleeper, but try your best! Giant U shaped body pillows are great to snuggle into or you can even use regular pillows by putting one on each side (and even one under your knees) while you sleep on your back to prevent you from rolling over onto your face.

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  • KEEP HAIR AWAY FROM BROWS: If you often have hair in your face then pin back that fringe at least for the first week. Hair getting into your fresh brows can cause infection which will disturb the way the color heals.

"Why are they so dark?!" - brows heal in stages & during the healing process your brows can get darker before they heal to their final color.  Don't freak out! Remember... the color is under healing skin & as skin heals it goes through stages, so your color will appear to get darker before it softens to the final result.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON HEALING STAGES

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LONG TERM AFTER CARE

Helping your cosmetic tattoo stay sharp & nicely coloured means you’ll need to take care of the area long term too. 

  • Always use sunscreen - sunlight WILL fade cosmetic tattoos

  • Avoid rapid exfoliation or anti-aging creams in the area - these also cause fading

  • Avoid certain skin treatments in the area, such as chemical peels, facial scrubs, laser rejuvenation, microdermabrasion & others

  • If you're planning a skin treatment, tell your skincare professional about your cosmetic tattoo

  • If you need an MRI scan or other medical procedure, inform your doctor as well as the technician performing the treatment about your cosmetic tattoo

There’s no guarantee as to how long cosmetic tattoos will last because the chemistry of individual skin is unique.  With care you’ll ensure the best results possible.

 

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THINGS THAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT PIGMENT RETENTION

  • poor diet

  • stress

  • smoking

  • excessive alcohol consumption

  • poor general health

  • sleep/fatigue

  • weakened immune system 

*** Complimentary touch-up appointments, when applicable, are offered to perfect existing work & make slight adjustments.

 

***Proper aftercare is necessary for successful pigment retention. 

*** Failure to follow the above instructions voids our service agreement & may result in the loss of your complimentary touch-up appointment.  

 

***There are no implied or written guarantees. If you don't follow after-care guidelines we will not be able to start over at your touch-up appointment.

 

We will always work with you to ensure success. Our Pre & Post Care Instructions are for your safety & ensure the success of your results, therefore we observe a zero tolerance policy for those unwilling to comply with these guidelines & failure to do may result in refusal of future bookings.​

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